The former “super head” at three Birmingham schools at the centre of the so-called Trojan Horse scandal broke down in tears as her lawyer described the “emotional and mental” impact the scandal has had on her.

Lindsey Clark is accused by the National College for Teaching & Leadership (NCTL) of professional misconduct and including an “undue amount of religious influence” in the education at Park View Academy in Alum Rock.

Ms Clark was the executive headteacher of the former Park View Educational Trust, which ran Park View, Nansen Primary and Golden Hillock.

All three schools are at the centre of an alleged Plot by hardline Muslims to take control of governing bodies.

Katie Langdon, defending Ms Clark, said the 64-year-old was “unable to accept the reality” of the allegations she was facing.

She said Ms Clark, who was due to retire just weeks before news of the Trojan Horse scandal broke last year, had potentially harmed her own defence case by failing to come up with any witnesses to corroborate her evidence.

“Through lack of confidence she has not approached people through fear they may feel contaminated by association,” added Ms Langdon.

She said Ms Clark, who was head at Park View for 13 years, has transformed it from a failing to an “outstanding” school that became a national model for excellence in teaching and raising achievement.

She added: “A few weeks before her retirement her entire world crashed and for the first time she is confronted with these awful allegations that she is part of some plot to Islamise schools and she is alleged to be fraudulent in her financial affairs (of the school).”

Ms Clark is one of 11 teachers from schools within the former PVET who are accused of professional misconduct.

Meanwhile, also giving evidence was Hilary Thompson who was assistant head at Nansen for six years up until 2013.

She criticised the recruitment of Mr Faraz, who became deputy head at Nansen in April 2012.

He was given the job after being interviewed by Moz Hussain and former Park View chair of governors Tahir Alam, as well as Park View teacher Imanulhaq Anwar. Mr Anwar also faces allegations of professional consuct, while Alam has been banned from being a governor for the part he played in the scandal.

Mrs Thompson said: “My impression of his (Razwan’s) appointment was that he had been promoted to the position as a result of his friendship with staff members at Park View.”